Fast Fun Racer or Getaway Weekend Cruiser

Its hard to imagine that a modern 27 foot sailboat with a classic look, superb stability, and easy to manage rig is such a fast boat. 123-126 PHRF. No longer do you have to substitute speed for comfort, or own separate boats for racing and cruising. The 8’ long cockpit seats 4 to 5 comfortably. Below deck you can sleep 5. And with head and stove, the J/27 is the perfect weekend cruiser.

Fun and Fast. There are some impressive victories to back this up, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. The J/27 is fun and responsive. Nothing is more exhilarating than popping the J/27’s kite in a good breeze for a downhill sleigh ride. 15+ knots planing off the wave-tops is easy. And most importantly, this off-wind speed doesn’t sacrifice upwind performance. Going to windward in the J/27 is a dream, it has the solid, balanced "feel" of a traditional keelboat. The J/27 points higher and goes faster than many 30-35 footers!

One-Design Racing. Even more fun is sailing a one-design race around the buoys. The J/27’s close-windedness makes it very tactical, as even 5 degree wind shifts bring significant gains. Then off wind, you quickly learn to play gibe angles as the boat’s acceleration gains you valuable ground on the competition. The J/27 is remarkably agile and responsive in lighter winds, which is unusual for a boat that feels so solid.

All-Day Comfort. Sailing past larger boats is always satisfying... especially when it’s effortless and you can’t be written off as being wet and uncomfortable. Design is the difference. It’s all done from a cockpit which holds several people more than is possible on other 27-footers. Correctly angled backrests and decks at elbow level provide restful and secure seating. Harken mainsheet, vang, traveler, and backstay systems; four Barient winches; a beautiful double spreader, tapered, fractional rig spar by Hall . . . make control and adjustment easy for crew members no matter what the wind.

Get-away Weekend Cruiser. Take a break from the pace of life on land and spend time with family and friends sailing the J/27. It's a fun boat to sail, so everyone becomes involved. The visibility, when steering with a responsive tiller gives the inexperienced that sense of control not found when spinning a tiny wheel on small cruisers with large trunk cabins.

The J/27 has a comfortable, open interior in teak with off-white surfaces. A main structural fiberglass bulkhead with oval opening separates the spacious double V-berth and head area from the main cabin. The main settee berth converts to a double. Aft of the galley to starboard is a comfortable quarter berth. Enough room below for a family of four or a couple for a nice weekend romp to your favorite sailing anchorage.

Durable and Stable. The J/27’s secure big boat feel is created by concentrating 1530 pounds of lead very low in the keel while using high strength to eight ratio laminates in the hull. Unidirectional E-glass on either side of pre-sealed Baltek CK57 aircraft grade, Lloyd’s approved, end grain balsa sandwich construction means superior torsion and impact resistance. Light ends, low freeboard, and the low center of gravity of a lead keel coupled with low wetted surface and a generous sailplan of 362 sq. ft. achieves exceptional sail area and stability relative to displacement. Hence, sparkling performance in both light and heavy air...something that doesn’t happen with iron keels and box-like hulls.

Strong Class Strict Rules. The J/27 Class Association, owner driven and over 190 boats strong, sail in North American, Midwinter, and Regional championships. A superb J/27 Class Newsletter keeps you up-to-date on Class activities, latest results, maintenance tips, cruising points of interest, and "go-fasts". And the J/27 Class Rules have sail limitations to help insure equal performance and resale value. The Class supports both the active racer and cruising sailor in addition to fleets throughout the U.S.